Assassin’s Creed Origins Director Talks Ditched Mini-Map & Desert Hallucinations

Assassin’s Creed games have largely been defined by icons on a mini-map, but 2017’s Assassin’s Creed Origins mixes up that formula with a brand new HUD system. In a recent interview with Game Informer , Ubisoft creative director Jean Guesdon explained his team’s decision.

“We wanted to break this trope of going from one icon to another icon in the mini-map. Because of the quality in the world, because of the extreme talent that is put in that world, we really wanted players to look at the world around them. This is why we decided to move from the mini-map to a compass. The compass still gives you hints and information, but you need to engage, you need to participate to your experience.”

In essence, one of the design goals with Origins was to make the HUD feel lighter so that players could better immerse themselves in the history in front of them. It’s just one facet of what Guesdon calls “seamless open-world” mechanics that allow assassins to “run rampant” through the environment between city and countryside with no loading screens whatsoever. The concept was something that Guesdon’s fellows touched on in Black Flag, but it’s been more fully realized today due to advances in procedural generation technology.

However, the new coat of paint behind Origins promises to go much deeper than providing an intricate playground to explore. The NPCs are also more alive than previous titles. For the first time in the series, every character or animal on the map has its own distinct AI intended to make everything feel more real. This means smaller crowds lining the streets, but it makes each interaction more meaningful.

In fact, this grounded character perception relates to the game’s protagonist too. Speaking to PlayStation Blog , Guesdon discussed a brand new feature called the “desert overheat system.” While he didn’t share specifics, we know dehydration will play a key role in how everything functions. Players won’t be forced to drink water per se, but the longer time they spend away from the city, the more likely it is that their reality will become distorted.

“You will experience a bit of hallucination,” Guesdon teased, “that will make things appear, so it’s always interesting to go there.” What’s most intriguing about this concept is what these visions might offer. Will every single sight in the distance be a mere taunt of wealth ahead, or might hallucinations actually offer an advantage in rare circumstances?

Beyond needling to keep Link cool in The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, we haven’t seen something like this implemented before. In that sense, it will be interesting to see how Assassin’s Creed Origins is made better or worse as a result.

Assassin’s Creed Origins marks a departure from Ubisoft’s previously annualized plans, and, as such, the game’s being sold as a rebirth of a tired franchise. In addition to removing the classic HUD, 2017’s title also features new RPG elements and possible narrative distance from past installments .

Assassin’s Creed Origins comes to Xbox One, PS4 and PC on Oct. 27. Read our full impressions of the game from the E3 2017 show floor.

Are you glad Assassin’s Creed Origins has a minimized HUD? Will that make the game feel different? Tell us in the comments section!